18/06/2022
A rather fantastic description of the local area:
Northam is a small village, lying north of Bideford and south of Westward Ho! There are many country walks around the village and the outlying areas, including the popular Northam Burrows, Appledore Quay and the nearby Westward Ho! Beach. It has a potted and interesting history filled with Saxon derring-do that’s worth more than a passing look too.
Local amenities include a supermarket with post office, newsagents and take-aways. There’s also a primary school, a health & dental centre and a number of churches in the area. Northam also has a decent public swimming pool and gym too. You’ll never be short of places to eat and drink with Appledore, Westward Ho! and Abbotsham on your doorstep with their cornucopia of restaurants and pubs. Being a coastal village, seafood is high on the menu, fresh from the morning’s catch, so be sure to patronise your local fishmonger, if that’s your thing. Golf enthusiasts will also have cause to celebrate because there’s a great championship course on the outskirts of Westward Ho! too. Westward Ho! is also very popular with surfers and body boarders, with many places to get lessons and hire kit for the beginner.
It’s within short driving distance of the Atlantic Highway (A39) that is the main feeder route across the region leading to Wadebridge in Cornwall to the south-west and to the M5 by Tiverton in the east. A very good regular bus services provides access to North Devon’s ‘capital’, Barnstaple. Bus users can also reach Westward Ho!, Bideford, Braunton, Appledore, Croyde and Ilfracombe with ease.